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"Dad, can you stand over there? By the doors?"
Anthony frowned, but without thinking he did what he was asked for. It was only when he saw the grin on the face of his eldest child that he started wondering about the reason why he was asking this.
Edmund had his phone in his hand and clicked fast. He looked rather satisfied with himself when he saw the result of what probably was a picture of him.
"This is mom talking, isn't it?" Anthony sighed dramatically after he connected the dots in his head. "She wants to know if I'm okay?" Anthony tried to bring it casually, there was no need to tell Edmund more than he needed to know.
"I think she probably just wants to know if we're really there," Edmund shrugged. "Can you really blame her? After last time?"
Edmund wasn't a little kid anymore, his son was becoming a man, and suddenly Anthony longed back for the days when he could tickle and cuddle him after a comment like this.
"You know there wasn't a thing I could do about it!" Anthony heard how he subconsciously raised his voice.
"You tell yourself whatever you like, Dad." Edmund seemed to enjoy getting onto his father's nerves.
Anthony clenched his jaw, he didn't want to get into an argument with his kid about why Kate was wrong last time.
He thought back to the rare occasion where they couldn't attend a school gathering together. Anthony had to take the boys alone, stood still in traffic for two hours and ended up being so late, the play was almost over by the time they got to the school.
Until today Charlotte didn't know he and her brothers only saw her bowing and receiving her applause. He made sure they've kept their mouths shut, Charlie didn't need to know, it would only have hurt her.
As thoughtful as his sons were for Charlie's feelings, they were pretty ignorant about him and his, because as soon as they got home they immediately ran to their mother and told her about it.
Kate was so mad, apparently she'd texted him the road was blocked hours ago.
She only forgot to send it to his personal phone, a thing he only had to please his family, after he realized he was always busy with work.
But there wasn't a way he could or would try to win the argument; Kate was pregnant, and their track record during her pregnancies weren't good.
They were pretty horrible actually.
No, Anthony wasn't going to risk getting on her bad side and sleeping on the couch for the rest of the night.
Okay, he had to admit, after a while she'd always come over to get him. Saying she's sorry and wanting him back in their bed. Even with that knowledge, the urge to win every argument faded when Kate was carrying their child.
Things were manageable right now, and he chose to embrace the happiness and ignore all that came natural to him for 9 months. It wasn't even that hard; he would do anything for his wife.
"Let me see that picture," Anthony gestured for Edmund to come closer. "You haven't sent it already have you?"
Edmund shook his head and came to him.
"For God's sake Neddy !" Anthony cried out. "I look like I'm 50 years old in this picture, you have to delete this and make another one."
"And you're saying I'm vain…" Edmund laughed. He really liked to make fun at his dad, especially now that he hit puberty. "You're way worse!"
"Yes yes," Anthony waved his hand imperiously. "Come, take this." He gave his son his phone back. "And let your mother see how handsome her husband is."
Edmund rolled his eyes but did as was told anyway. He nodded once he was done and showed him the picture.
"Satisfied?" He lifted one eyebrow but didn't comment any further.
"Yes, and you have to admit…" Anthony ran a hand through his hair. "Your dad still looks pretty sharp."
Edmund shrugged, which made Anthony react directly.
"You don't think I'm pretty?" He asked, a bit amused.
"I don't know.." Edmund felt awkward, Anthony could tell this much by the way his son kept looking around. "I mean.. you're a guy.. and my dad."
"Edmund Bridgerton," Anthony laughed but he put on a straight face right after he was done laughing. "You can't be serious and really believe this!"
He grabbed his son's hand, this was important and he needed him to hear him.
"Guys can tell if other guys are pretty, please don't grow up to be like so many, be different, be better." Anthony squeezed Edmund's hand to make himself even more clear. "I think you and Miles are the prettiest boys I've ever seen, and I'm not ashamed to admit this."
Edmund rolled his eyes at him, trying to look away but at the last moment he decided not to. "Are you serious? You're not just saying this because you're our dad?"
The bell rang, the show was about to start, but neither of them made a move to go inside.
"I'm really not," Anthony said in earnest. "You know I don't lie when it's important."
Edmund took his words in, after a while he nodded. "What do you think of Gareth?" He asked him. "And Michael?"
"Gareth is beautiful, and Michael may be a little too beautiful." Anthony made a face. "don't you agree?"
"Yes... I guess they are handsome men.."
Anthony still held his hand, they just looked at each other, like they both were aware this was a moment .
It was Edmund who broke the silence.
"Shouldn't we go inside? I think Miles is in the first part."
Anthony smiled a gigantic smile, he took his son in for a hug and felt a fluttering sensation in his stomach when Edmund wrapped his arms around him. His boy was still there, good, sweet and beautiful as always.
He bent down a little so he could speak into his son's ear.
"So we'll be a little late, I won't tell if you don't."